Safe Driving Secrets for Mothers this Holiday

This holiday season, even with the recession, more and more people are taking to the roads, shopping, visiting friends and family. Hence, this is one of the most dangerous times of the year, and in the blink of an eye, a holiday celebration could go sour and could result in a lifetime tragedy.

Here are some safety tips you could make use of this holiday season

Tune Up! – The holiday is marked with drastic weather conditions such as rain, snow, hail and sleet. Ensure that your car is efficiently tuned up before getting on the road. Repair problematic cars before getting on the road.

Zero Distraction – Distractions can take the attention away from the driving task and place the driver at an increased risk of crashing. For instance, the average person under the ideal condition takes ¼ of a second to identify a road hazard (such as seeing someone dart out between two cars), ¼ of a second for the brain to process the situation, and another ¼ of a second to make a decision on how to avoid the hazard. If travelling at 30mph, that processing time translates to about 33feet before the driver even reacts to the situation. And this is definitely an ample time to knock off the child who is just 4 feet away after reaction time if one is not alert.

One of the greatest dangers that affect holiday drivers is the fact that they are usually physically and sometimes emotionally stressed by too much activities and kids in the car. When a driver becomes tired or overstressed, they lose their alertness, and the ability to drive defensively is greatly diminished. Since most people are always in hurry, and when you combine speed with the distraction, it is a good recipe for disaster. for you and your kids

It is much better to adjust your schedule and plan more time for driving before heading out. Get some rest in between, like stopping for coffee or snacks, sit and relax before heading to another destination.

Car Seats – Properly secure babies and toddlers in a car seat, and ensure that the bigger kids use a booster seat and seat belts at all times. In no situation should you overlook these safety precautions, even when traveling short distances. It is also important to know that the safest place for children is the rear seat.

Follow The Rules – It is very important that you observe the rules and take extra caution when on the road. Since almost everyone is also in a hurry shopping for last minute gifts.

Be Mindful of Other Drivers – Be aware of other drivers and in no circumstance should you drink before or while driving, since this might impair your vision and could affect your ability to see other drivers on the road. If you see someone driving in an unsafe manner, keep your distance and prepare yourself for sudden moves.

I hope you find this tips useful, feel free to share with me what you think could help other mothers be safe this holiday. I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessing a mother and a chemical engineer. Her safety conscious blog for mothers can be found at http://www.safehomehappymom.com/